Letters

He has done it again!! That Ollie guy, your writer, has sucked me in again!! I read his story a few weeks back and read this story about the Extreme-X dude (“San Diego’s Superhero,” Cover Story, April 16). Ollie has a special way of coming off to readers like myself. I enjoy reading his work. I saw him on KUSI news too. He is truly an asset to your team, and I wanted to mention that to you guys. Nothing more, nothing less. He has a special way with words, clearly. Keep up the good stories, Ollie!! Please pass on the kudos to him!!

It would be an understatement to say I was his captive audience from beginning to end. Mr. Lickona’s article sparkled with vitality, style, and information. I could smell the incense and hear the rustle of heavy silk. I marveled over the Chaldean Mass and its “element of strangeness.” Thus, when the story finished on page 48, I was still busy watching Father Jon Braun, “chalice in one hand and spoon in the other.” I did not want the story to end. I did not want to leave this fascinating voyage of discovery.

It’s comforting to know that your paper continues to serve the public — especially during these hard times — with excellent reading from your treasure trove of writers. Thank you.

Early Christians worshiped on Saturday, or the Sabbath. Christ, while observing the Sabbath, set Himself in word and act against this absurd rigorism that made man a slave of the day. He reproved the scribes and Pharisees for putting an intolerable burden on men’s shoulders (Matthew 23:4) and proclaimed the principle that “the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). He cured on the Sabbath and defended His disciples for plucking ears of corn on that day. In His arguments with the Pharisees on this account, He showed that the Sabbath is not broken in cases of necessity or by acts of charity (Matthew 12:3 sqq.; Mark 2:25 sqq.; Luke 6:3 sqq.; 14:5). St. Paul enumerates the Sabbath among the Jewish observances which are not obligatory on Christians (Colossians 2:16; Galatians 4:9–10; Romans 14:5). The gentile converts held their religious meetings on Sunday (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Paul preached on the Sabbath (Acts 13:14).

So what happened? Why did Christians stop going to church on Saturday and start going on Sunday?

The Roman Emperor Constantine, after winning a battle, became a Christian. In 321 AD, he issued an edict forbidding work on Sunday. Christians in general had hitherto held Saturday as sacred. In 324 AD, the emperor formally established Christianity as the official religion of the empire.

The Catholic Council of Laodicea, 363 AD, Canon 29:

“Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema (an abomination or curse) from Christ.”

And that’s how Christians started worshiping on Sunday instead of Saturday.

Name Withheld by Request
via email

Truth Serum

While I know it will be a terrible strain for everyone, could we possibly inject some truth into the “90 percent of Mexico’s guns come from the U.S.” issue (“Mommy, Why Are They Shooting at Us Again?” Cover Story, April 2). The truth is a little closer to 17 percent: foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/ 04/02/myth-percent-guns-mexico-fraction-number-claimed/.

And while I know it will be even more of a strain, could we at least use some common sense here? The Mexican drug cartels are run by people with connections to international crime syndicates, with literally millions of dollars at their disposal. If they can get raw heroin and cocaine, why would they not be able to get any weapons they want?

Steven Moschak
via email

A Name Means Nothing

This is Chaos Rabbit with my little input and intakes on some of the comments left on your letters page.

This is in response to all these people who are frothing at the mouth over the response to the article called “My Gender Is Bunny” (Cover Story, March 26). First off, as far as the article itself goes, the entire article could be summed up in three letters: what the f*** is this about? This article is all over the place. We’re talking about guys being changed into chicks, online dragons, virtual reality, “he” being called “she.” It’s all like one big, busy ride. But I waded through the article, said, okay, that was about as interesting as having a spike jammed up my nose, but I got through it.

Now, I’m sitting here reading all the people whining in, “This isn’t right. He wants to be called a she. Why can’t you refer to him as a she?” Folks, look at my name. My name is Chaos Rabbit. But guess what, I’m not really a rabbit. You know, you can call something something, but the bottom line is, if you’re born with a certain kind of chromosome, whether it be X or Y, you are what you are. If it’s an innie, you’re a girl, if it’s an outie, you’re a guy. And frankly, it doesn’t matter if you go in and have surgery to change yourself into a male, a female, or a table lamp in outward appearance. You are what you are. The rest of it’s just b*******. You’re trying to cover up and become something you’re not.

As far as these people who are saying, “Well, you should respect this person. If they want to be called a she, you should call them a she.” Hey, I want to be called the emperor of Wyoming. That doesn’t make me the emperor of Wyoming, and the name Chaos Rabbit doesn’t really make me a rabbit.